GAME DAY - Round 16

[Whispering_Jack 31,267]

I just realised there's a game on tonight ... and with Hawthorn's demise last night, the Dockers have even more incentive (if any was needed) to not only win but to win well. A win of the magnitude of the 15 goal bashing they inflicted on us a little over 12 months ago (of which we're constantly reminded by the idiot in the airport parking radio ad on SEN) would put the Dockers in with a chance to grab a top two spot sooner or later in the season.

For our part, I'm hoping that we can return to the intensity displayed the last time we visited the Northern Territory when we played Port Adelaide (except for the first and last 15 minutes of that game).

Is it too much to ask?

[BarnDee 287]

go dees , is there radio coverage ?

[Ethan Tremblay 31,271]

I normally go into a game confident, no matter how bad things are or have been. Unfortuntaely for this one, I can't seem to find that optimism. I hope I'm wrong.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Call me silly...

I think itll be a dowdy game of lock down defence. Not expecting to triumph but not sensing a shellacking either.

Go Dees

[ucanchoose 1,816]

go dees , is there radio coverage ?

SEN

ABC

[Sir Why You Little 37,341]

It will get ugly.

Is Col playing?

[Wormburner 674]

Anything under a 30pt loss, will be a small win and step forward for us from last year IMO.

[dees189227 12,453]

interesting to see what the crowd is. Its actually not a bad ground to watch footy from. Im not sure what to expect.

[hardtack 10,978]

It will get ugly.

Is Col playing?

I'm actually not writing us off for this one. We don't have to put up with that god awful partisan home crowd of theirs and the conditions may level the playing field a little.

And yes, I believe Col is playing.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

North has given me a lot of hope last night.

I thought they played a similar game plan to the one Roos is trying to implement.

They controlled possession, scarified a lot of ground, handballed similar to what we did against St Kilda, Hansen was similar to Howe as a sweeping/intercepting defender, Brown was Gawn esk, and Petrie had similar forward pressure like Dawes.

BUT their running and spread was great and was the key to the whole thing. Players took risks, never stopped moving and always provided options. Most importantly, they hit their targets.

That pretty much shut down Hawthorn's chip game.

I'm not expecting us to win today, but expect Frawley, Garland and Terlich to really lift of their past few performances.

Go Dees!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Can't believe how glum everybody is

Facts are that in the last 4 weeks we have played 50/50 footy - half excellent half deplorable. It's all about getting 4 quarters in.

IF we play 120 minutes like we did in

the 2nd half against the bombers,

the first half against the pies,

all but the 3rd quarter against the Roos, and

the third quarter last week -

we will take it up to this mob

[Deeoldfart 8,162]

Can't believe how glum everybody is

Facts are that in the last 4 weeks we have played 50/50 footy - half excellent half deplorable. It's all about getting 4 quarters in.

IF we play 120 minutes like we did in

the 2nd half against the bombers,

the first half against the pies,

all but the 3rd quarter against the Roos, and

the third quarter last week -

we will take it up to this mob

I agree C&B, and Paul Roos would have been reinforcing your point all week. I've highlighted the key word in your post.

[JV7 2,375]

The last 2 weeks I had a bad feeling heading into the game and was proven right. Tonight I don't expect a win but we'll be competitive, 2-3 goal loss I'm predicting. Darwin conditions don't really lend itself to big scores/losses, combine that with 2 sides which game plans built strongly on defense first. We'll be in the game up until 3 qrt time but fremantle will be too strong in the end. Aslong as we have a crack and were competitive, I'm happy.

[chook fowler 19,734]

The only problem is the Dockers through Ross Lyon are masters of the Roos game plan. Will have to be far more attacking because if we try to lock down on them they will crucify us.

[SaberFang 7,151]

In fairness, I think everyone went into the Adelaide and Port games and thought we'd get pummelled. We won the former, and came close in the latter.

I don't think we'll win but I'm hoping it isn't the bloodbath many here are predicting.

[Yossarian 1,820]

Does playing in Darwin at the same time as the Port/Dons game on a Saturday night mean I have to listen to Basil Zempilas for two straight hours again?

I don't think I can put myself through it.

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Does playing in Darwin at the same time as the Port/Dons game on a Saturday night mean I have to listen to Basil Zempilas for two straight hours again?

I don't think I can put myself through it.

No. He's doing the Richmond game

[Yossarian 1,820]

No. He's doing the Richmond game

Ah, life is good.

[Guest]

It will get ugly.

Is Col playing?

Nope, I am still here in Melbourne and have eaten too many burgers and pies to qualify for any kind of selection.

[demoniac 1,337]

First Darwin game I've missed.

Always a great atmosphere in the lead up to games at TIO Stadium only to be dampened by our non competitiveness in recent years.

[BarnDee 287]

thanks for that ucan

[Pirlo 813]

102 points is my tip.

We're due for a belting, unfortunately.

The boys have gone to sleep.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

102 points is my tip.

We're due for a belting, unfortunately.

The boys have gone to sleep.

like when they kicked 7 goals in the third quarter last week right

[dees189227 12,453]

how is the day in darwin? Quite hot and humid as usual. What is expected to be the temp when the match starts? For anyone up there have they seen the players walking around the town and bump into them at coles or outback jacks. 2 years ago thats where we kept bumping into the team.

[titan_uranus 25,209]

Fremantle's due for a loss, they've been up for a while now. At some point someone's going to get the better of them, and if we turn up like we did against Adelaide and Port Adelaide (both sides who thought they had the win before the game started), then who knows.

Of course, if we start like we did last week, we'll be 10 goals down at half time. We cannot afford lapses against anyone, let alone a top 4 side, so we'll need to actually be on from the start to be any chance.

We'll also need much improved performances from a few key players (e.g. Garland, who's probably going to get someone like Mayne or Ballantyne) if we're any chance.